Last Monday night, I left the therapy session feeling satisfied that I'd said what I needed to say and realizing that those sessions aren't for the faint of heart. There have been plenty of times when I would have benefitted from a therapist, a trained professional that would've helped me sort out my life; but … Continue reading Anxiety to Gratitude: Making a Switch
faith
Serendipitous Friend: Treasure from Iona
Over the past few days, I've felt a longing for Iona, Scotland. It has been two years since I traveled there on my Solo Journey, the first to an international pilgrimage site. I chose that island located in the Inner Hebrides to attend a week at The Abbey. There I joined forty other participants in … Continue reading Serendipitous Friend: Treasure from Iona
Rays of Hope
It’s been four months since I learned my marriage would be ending. I look back on all the initial steps through each phase of the grief process. I know that grief is not ‘one and done’ that when we lose something or someone of importance, we work through that for a long time. While you … Continue reading Rays of Hope
Sidetracked Dreams: Getting Back on Track
A year ago, I was working on the edits to my memoir including writing the preface. I thought a long while about what I would say in that opening portion of my memoir, how I wanted to speak to my readers. The paragraph that I 'sat with' for a long time was worded like this … Continue reading Sidetracked Dreams: Getting Back on Track
It’s Still About the Future
This week has been a time of reflection. Monday was supposed to be my 41st wedding anniversary. Instead, it marked the sixth week of separation from my husband. I'd dreaded that day, knowing the reality of it all would hit on that observance that was just ours as a couple-- not a family holiday or … Continue reading It’s Still About the Future
Companions Through Grief
Over the past week, I've continued to be touched by the support I've received from family, friends, and readers. It's been three months since I realized that I was losing my marriage. On the one hand, that's a short amount of time and it's still unbelievable; on the other hand, I've traveled on through a … Continue reading Companions Through Grief
Grace for the Journey
In my post last week, "41st Anniversary: Not What I Expected" I shared the news that my life has greatly changed, that my husband and I have separated. Since then, I've been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from my family, friends, and readers. This time in my life has reminded me of … Continue reading Grace for the Journey
41st Anniversary: Not What I Expected
We're moving through summer and fast approaching August 5th-- the day that would have marked our forty-one years of marriage. I'd expected that David and I would grow old together as a long-married couple. We first became friends in eighth grade and maintained that friendship through college. Afterwards we dated for a year and and married-- to … Continue reading 41st Anniversary: Not What I Expected
96 Years: A Life Well Lived
Today we celebrated Mama's ninety-sixth birthday. The gathering at Parkview Retirement Community included Mama's niece and her husband, we three daughters and our spouses, all but the eldest of the seven grandchildren, and six out of eight of the great grandchildren. It was quite a lively group with six children ages five and under. It … Continue reading 96 Years: A Life Well Lived
Season of Waiting
Tonight, on this first night of summer, I write this post while sitting in a wicker chair on my front porch. I listen to the sound of water trickling down the ribbed sides of our pottery fountain. Birds are flitting back and forth in the early evening light. Parents pass with school-age children riding bikes … Continue reading Season of Waiting
